In December, Ryan was diagnosed with Hunter syndrome, an enzyme disorder where Ryan isn't able to break down or recycle the cells in his body.

“It's almost like your kitchen, your garbage collecting in there, and at first he can walk around it, you can avoid it and it's not a big deal,” Matt Austin said.

But like the garbage in the kitchen, eventually it becomes too much, and the cells build up in his bones, tissues and organs, causing irreversible damage.

“The more time we go without finding a cure, the less time we have with Ryan,” Lindsay Austin said.

The average lifespan for kids with Hunter syndrome is between 11 and 19 years old.

“Finding out that your time with your son is limited, it's a parent's worst nightmare,” Lindsay Austin said.

Because the disease is so rare, there has been little to no research for a cure. So the Austins are taking up the cause themselves.

“We need to get the word out there, and we need to do everything we possibly can,” Matt Austin said.

“We will never give up on him. He is an amazing child. He's so strong, so strong and so brave. He can take more than I can and he's only 2 years old,” Lindsay Austin said.

To help with medical expenses and raise money for research, the Austins are hosting a pasta feed Saturday at Bryan High School starting at 11:30 a.m. Learn more about the family's fundraising efforts by visiting http://ryanourlion.com/